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2007 Atlantic hurricane season

The 2007 Atlantic hurricane season was the first season since 2003 to feature tropical activity both before and after the official bounds of the season. Although there were an above-average number of named storms during the season – 15, most of them were weak and short-lived. Despite the predominance of weak systems, this was the first season on record to feature more than one Category 5 landfalling hurricane. It produced 17 tropical cyclones, 15 tropical storms, six hurricanes, and two major hurricanes. It officially started on June 1 and ended on November 30, dates which conventionally delimit the period during which most tropical cyclones form in the Atlantic Ocean, although as shown by Subtropical Storm Andrea and Tropical Storm Olga in early May and early December, respectively, the formation of tropical cyclones is possible at any time of the year. The first system, Subtropical Storm Andrea, developed on May 9, while the last storm, Tropical Storm Olga, dissipated on December 13. The most intense hurricane, Dean, was, at the time, the third most intense landfalling Atlantic storm on record. It was the second on record in which an Atlantic hurricane, Felix, and an eastern Pacific hurricane, Henriette, made landfall on the same day. September had a then record-tying eight storms, until it was surpassed in 2020. However, the strengths and durations of most of the storms were low.

Seasonal forecasts
Philip J. Klotzbach, William M. Gray, and their associates at Colorado State University issue forecasts of hurricane activity each year, separately from NOAA. Klotzbach's team, formerly led by Gray, determined the average number of storms per season between 1950 and 2000 to be 9.6 tropical storms, 5.9 hurricanes, and 2.3 major hurricanes (storms exceeding Category 3 on the Saffir–Simpson scale). A normal season, as defined by NOAA, has 9 to 12 named storms, of which five to seven reach hurricane strength, and one to three become major hurricanes. Pre-season forecasts On December 8, 2006, Klotzbach's team issued its first extended-range forecast for the 2007 season, predicting above-average activity (14 named storms, seven hurricanes, three of Category 3 or higher). The increase in the forecast was attributed to the rapid dissipation of El Niño conditions. The team also forecast a neutral or weak-to-moderate La Niña and noted that sea surface temperatures were much higher than average. The estimated potential for at least one major hurricane to affect the U.S. was increased to 74 percent; the East Coast potential increased to 50 percent, and from the Florida Panhandle westward to Brownsville, Texas, the probability rose to 49 percent. On August 3, 2007, Klotzbach's team lowered its season estimate to 15 named storms, of which eight were to become hurricanes and four to become major hurricanes. Team members noted that conditions had become slightly less favorable for storms than earlier in the year. Sea surface temperature anomalies were cooler, and several Saharan Air Layer events had suppressed development of tropical cyclones. El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) conditions were also noted to have been slightly cooler. On August 9, 2007, NOAA revised its season estimate slightly downwards to 13 to 16 named storms, of which seven to nine were to be hurricanes, and three to five major hurricanes. However, the agency reaffirmed its prediction of an above-average season, citing warmer-than-normal sea surface temperatures in parts of the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean and the likelihood of La Niña conditions during the peak of the season. ==Seasonal summary==
Seasonal summary
Only two major hurricanes, storms of Category 3 intensity or higher, formed during the season, the fewest since the 1997 season. Named storms were active for 33.50 days during the season, the lowest number of active days since the 1994 season. There were only 11.25 days with active hurricanes, the lowest value since the 2002 season. Despite this, the number of days with major hurricanes was above the long-term average. Both major hurricanes, Dean and Felix, attained Category 5 status, and both made landfall at Category 5 intensity, making the 2007 season the first to feature two hurricanes doing each, both of which would not be repeated until 2017. When Hurricane Felix was upgraded to a Category 5 storm on September 2, it became the eighth to form in this basin since 2000. This gave the decade more hurricanes of such strength than any other on record. Hurricane Humberto was the first hurricane to make landfall in Texas since Hurricane Claudette in 2003. ACE is, broadly speaking, a measure of the power of the hurricane multiplied by the length of time it existed, so storms that last a long time, as well as particularly strong hurricanes, have high ACEs. ACE is only calculated for full advisories on tropical systems at or exceeding or tropical storm strength. Although officially, subtropical cyclones, such as Andrea or the initial portions of Gabrielle, Jerry, and Olga, are excluded from the total, the figure above includes periods when storms were in a subtropical phase. ==Systems==
Systems
Subtropical Storm Andrea A large extratropical cyclone formed offshore the mid-Atlantic on May 6. It deepened steadily along a cold front that pushed through Florida. After losing most of its baroclinic support, development ceased until its low moved into warmer waters near the Bahamas. However, interaction between the low and a strong high-pressure system to the north generated hurricane-force winds in the system. Decreasing wind shear allowed deeper convection to develop much closer to the center. immediately peaking with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of . Andrea then moved southward into an environment with higher wind shear, weakening to a subtropical depression on May 10. The storm degenerated into a remnant low on the next day about east of Ponce Inlet, Florida, as all significant convection had disappeared. Following intermittent bursts of convection, an advancing cold front pushed Andrea's remnants northward and eventually absorbed the system. Because Andrea never made landfall, most of the resulting damage was associated with large waves, higher than normal tides, associated coastal flooding, and beach erosion. while waves covered Highway 12 with sand and washed part of it away. From North Carolina to Florida, several vessels suffered damage and a few other went capsized or were lost. Winds generated by the storm contributed to the spread of wildfires in Florida and Georgia. Six deaths occurred in the United States, all due to waves generated by Andrea's precursor. The extratropical system which developed into Andrea also produced significant swells in the Bahamas. Tropical Storm Barry On May 30, a broad low-pressure area spawned from a westward-moving tropical wave offshore the east of the Yucatán Peninsula. The low organized into a tropical depression just north of the Yucatán Channel on June 1, the first day of the hurricane season. Six hours later, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Barry. The storm moved north-northeastward and reached its peak intensity early on June 2 with winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) and a minimum pressure of . However, strong wind shear weakened Barry to a tropical depression before it made landfall on Anna Maria Island, Florida, several hours later. Barry became extratropical late on June 2 over eastern Georgia, but its remnants continued up the East Coast of the United States before being absorbed by a larger extratropical cyclone over eastern Quebec on June 5. The precursor to Barry dropped heavy rains in parts of Cuba, with Sancti Spíritus Province recording up to . In Florida, the rainfall resulted in slick roads, which caused two traffic-related deaths, and a woman was killed after being injured by rough surf. Barry spawned a few tornadoes in the state, damaging a few homes and powe lines and knocking down some trees and fences. Up to of rain fell in Georgia at Mount Vernon, The remnants of Barry also caused some instances of flooding farther north and more than 60 traffic accidents in Virginia, resulting in 10 injuries. Damage from Barry and its remnants totaled around $118,000. Tropical Storm Chantal A frontal system moved off the Carolinas on July 21 and degenerated into a surface trough. After remaining nearly stationary northeast of the Bahamas, the system began organizing on July 28 as the motion became more northerly. On July 30, the low passed to the west of Bermuda as the thunderstorms became more organized. On July 31, Tropical Depression Three developed about north-northwest of Bermuda. Convection increased further over the center, and at around 06:00 UTC on July 31 the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Chantal. The storm continued northeastward, under the influence of a mid-level trough, and quickly reached peak winds of . The storm tracked through an area of progressively cold waters and cooler air, causing Chantal to weaken. On August 1, the storm transitioned into an extratropical storm within the approaching cold front. Midday on August 1, the cyclone struck Newfoundland along the Avalon Peninsula, hitting the Placentia Area with full force. It subsequently intensified to attain winds of near hurricane-force. On August 3 the cyclone underwent a final weakening trend in the far northern Atlantic Ocean, and on August 5 the extratropical remnants of Chantal merged with another extratropical cyclone to the east of Iceland. On Bermuda, the L.F. Wade International Airport recorded of precipitation, which represented about 35% of rainfall observed there in July 2007. The remnants of Chantal moved over the Avalon Peninsula of Newfoundland, The flooding led to a state of emergency. In Ship Harbour citizens were isolated for 5 days until a temporary road was made. Also in Spaniard's Bay, the flooding caused a bridge to depress about ; The storm caused the annual Royal St. John's Regatta to be postponed. Hurricane Dean On August 11, a tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa, and, encountering favorable conditions, quickly spawned Tropical Depression Four, roughly west-southwest of Cabo Verde. and was upgraded to Tropical Storm Dean on August 14. The storm continued to strengthen overnight as it gained organization, and became the first hurricane of the season on August 16. Dean passed into the Caribbean on the following day between the islands of Martinique and Saint Lucia as a Category 2 hurricane. In the warm waters of the Caribbean, Dean rapidly strengthened into a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds. An eyewall replacement cycle weakened Dean, which then passed just south of Jamaica as a Category 4 hurricane on August 19. In the Lesser Antilles, Dean killed three people on Martinique, two on Dominica, and one on St. Lucia. Martinique was particularly hard hit, where the storm severely damaged 7,500 homes and destroyed 1,300 others. The island also lost virtually all of its banana crops and about 70% of sugar cane. On Jamaica, Dean deroofed 1,500 structures and heavily damaged 3,127 homes, 1,582 of which were left uninhabitable. Extensive agriculture losses occurred, especially to banana, cocoa, and sugar cane crops, as well as coffee trees. The hurricane damaged at least 50,000 homes to varying degrees in Mexico, leaving roughly 15,000 families homeless. Tens of thousands or hundreds of thousands of acres of citrus, coffee, corn, and habaneros were lost. Over 100,000 people without electricity and numerous others lost access to potable water. Dean left at least 12 people died in Mexico. with Mexico accounting for about $600 million of that total. but after entering Oklahoma early on August 19, the remnant low suddenly re-intensified to sustained winds of 60 mph (95 km/h) near Oklahoma City. The low dissipated that day, Throughout Texas, Erin killed nine people and inflicted over $48.8 million in damage. The remnants of Erin also brought heavy precipitation to parts of Oklahoma and Missouri, peaking at near Eakly in the former, while up to of rain fell in the latter at Miller, Parts of Missouri experienced similar effects, leading to one death and just over $21.95 million in damage. Hurricane Felix On August 24, a tropical wave exited the west coast of Africa. After moving westward for about a week, the wave organized into a tropical depression on August 31 about east of Barbados. Early on September 1, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Felix and crossed Grenada later that day. Felix upgraded to a hurricane on September 2. Tracking generally westward, it rapidly intensified to into a Category 5 hurricane on the following day and peaked with winds of 175 mph (280 km/h) and a minimum pressure of . After fluctuating in strength, Felix struck Nicaragua about north of Puerto Cabezas with winds on September 4. Thus, the 2007 season became the first known in the Atlantic to include two hurricanes making landfall at Category 5 intensity; hurricanes Irma and Maria accomplished this feat again in 2017. Felix quickly weakened as it moved inland and then into Honduras, degenerating into a remnant low over the Atlántida Department on September 5. The low continued west-northwestward until dissipating over eastern Mexico on the next day. In Central America, residents were reported to have been given little warning of the oncoming hurricane, which left many fisherman stranded at sea. Only pillars remained of the homes standing on the Miskito Cays. On the mainland, Felix demolished approximately 9,000 homes, most in Puerto Cabezas, where about 90% of structures suffered some degree of damage. In all, Felix killed at least 130 people and caused about 13.4 billion (2007 NIO; $716.3 million 2007 USD$,  USD) in damage. Flooding occurred over Honduras, particularly around Tegucigalpa and areas near the Chamelecón and Ulúa rivers. The Comisión Permanente de Contingencias reported damaged to or the destruction of 215 homes, 73 roads, 7 schools, and 5 bridges. Tropical Storm Gabrielle In early September, a cold front moved off the southeastern coast of the United States and developed a weak low over the waters near Georgia. The low drifted eastward and weakened over the next few days until it joined with convection from an upper-level trough over the western Atlantic. Gabrielle weakened over land, and moved back into the Atlantic on September 10. The circulation deteriorated further, and the storm dissipated about southwest of Nova Scotia the next day. In advance of the storm, tropical cyclone watches and warnings were issued for coastal areas, The storm dropped heavy rainfall in North Carolina near its immediate landfall location, peaking at in Carteret County, but little precipitation elsewhere. Along the coast, high waves, rip currents, and storm surge were reported. Slight localized flooding was reported, particularly in North Carolina at Beaufort and Morehead City, closing some roads and causing minor damage to several homes and businesses, Gusty winds also occurred, with tropical storm-force sustained winds and gusts at a few locations along the Outer Banks. Tropical Storm Ingrid A large tropical wave exited Africa on September 6 and initially failed to develop due to strong easterly shear. On September 9, a broad low-pressure area developed about midway between Africa and the Lesser Antilles. The wind shear slowly weakened, and early on September 12 Tropical Depression Eight developed about east of the Lesser Antilles. The system moved west-northwestward due to a ridge to its north, and with continued wind shear, it remained a tropical depression for 24 hours before convection increased further. Early on September 13 it intensified into Tropical Storm Ingrid, peaking with winds of 45 mph (75 km/h) and a minimum pressure of . Operationally, it was not upgraded to a tropical storm until that evening. Ingrid weakened to a tropical depression on September  15 due to high shear from a strong tropical upper tropospheric trough. the cyclone weakened further and degenerated into a remnant low early on September 17 about east-northeast of Antigua. The remnants turned northwestward within the low-level steering flow, and dissipated on September 18. Early on September 13, the storm peaked with winds of 90 mph (150 km/h) and a minimum pressure of , one hour before making landfall near High Island. Humberto quickly weakened and entered Southwest Louisiana as a tropical storm later on September 13, dissipating the next day. In Texas, Humberto caused some structural damage on High Island and widespread tree and power line damage in the BeaumontPort Arthur area. Power outages caused four oil refineries to halt production in Beaumont, while nearly 120,000 dwellings lost electricity in the state. The Federal Emergency Management Agency reported that Humberto destroyed 25 homes, severely damaged 96 residences, and caused minor damage to 240 others. Humberto and its remnants brought flooding and several tornadoes to other parts of the Southern United States. Damage was estimated at $50 million, mostly in Texas. The precursor system spawned a damaging tornado in Eustis, Florida, where 20 houses were destroyed and 30 more were damaged. Damage from that tornado was estimated at $6.2 million. It was the first cyclone to threaten the New Orleans area after the destructive 2005 hurricane season and Hurricane Katrina. However, overall impact from the cyclone itself was minor and largely limited to light rainfall. Tropical Storm Jerry The origins of Jerry were from a non-tropical low-pressure area over the central Atlantic on September 21. The system meandered for two days, gradually developing deeper convection and gaining organization. On September 23, the National Hurricane Center declared it a subtropical depression about southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland, as a warm core had developed but the system was still involved with an upper-level low, and its strongest winds were well removed from the center. Early on September 23, both satellite estimates and QuikScat data determined that the depression had strengthened into Subtropical Storm Jerry, despite the lack of a well-defined inner core. The storm slowly acquired tropical characteristics including a better-defined warm core, and Jerry became fully tropical that evening as a weak and sheared tropical storm with 40 mph (65 km/h) winds over a small radius, as well as a minimum pressure of Jerry accelerated northeastward over cooler waters with sea surface temperatures below . On September 24, it weakened to a tropical depression ahead of a powerful cold front with little deep convection remaining in the system. That evening, a QuikScat pass determined that Jerry opened up into a trough, which was being absorbed into the larger frontal system, while located about east-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. It completely dissipated by early on September 25. A sharp upper-level trough to the west of Karen increased the amount of vertical wind shear over the hurricane. Meanwhile, the storm began heading northward and experiencing intermittent bursts of deep convection. However, the relentless wind shear exposed the system's circulation until it degenerated into a remnant low about east of the Leeward Islands on September 29. Karen's remnants lingered near the Leeward Islands for the next few days. After traversing the Caribbean and crossed the Yucatán Peninsula, the disturbance developed a small surface low on September 24 over the southwestern Gulf of Mexico. Based on hurricane hunter aircraft observations, a tropical depression developed late on September 25 about east-northeast of Tuxpan. Under weak steering currents, the depression drifted south and southwest, executing a small cyclonic loop into the Bay of Campeche. Upper-level winds gave way to an anticyclone above the depression, and the system became Tropical Storm Lorenzo on September 27. The storm rapidly intensified to a hurricane less than 12 hours later. Lorenzo peaked on September 28 with winds of 80 mph (130 km/h) and a minimum pressure of , but weakened slightly before striking near Tecolutla, Veracruz. The small circulation then weakened rapidly and dissipated the next day. Overall, damage was estimated at $1 billion (2007 MXN; $92 million 2007 USD$,  USD). In Texas, a remnant surface trough from Lorenzo fueled severe thunderstorms throughout the state. Damage in the region totaled to US$255,000. Tropical Storm Melissa On September 26, a tropical wave exited Africa and quickly developed a low-pressure area. Following a convective increase and better-defined outflow, it developed into Tropical Depression Fourteen about west-southwest of the southernmost Cabo Verde Islands early on September 28. Because the depression was isolated from the subtropical ridge, the depression drifted west-northwestward. but following an increase in convection, the depression intensified into Tropical Storm Melissa early on September 29. Similar to previous storms Ingrid and Karen, high wind shear in the deep tropics hindered Melissa's development. Melissa peaked with winds of 40 mph (65 km/h) and a minimum pressure of , By September 30, the shear and cooler waters weakened Melissa to a tropical depression with a poorly defined surface center. The system lost its deep convection and by that afternoon, Melissa degenerated into a remnant low about west-southwest of the Cabo Verde Islands. It continued west-northwestward, producing intermittent convection, until being absorbed by a front northeast of the Lesser Antilles on October 5. The system slowly organized, developing a surface low pressure on October 8 to the northeast of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Convection associated with the storm steadily increased as the low moved towards the northeast. By October 11, the low organized into Tropical Depression Fifteen about east-southeast of Bermuda, after the convection had persisted for about 12 hours. An upper-level low to the west caused strong southwesterly wind shear, which inhibited development, The storm's center became exposed as the deep convection became limited to a few small cells north of the center. By that afternoon, the depression degenerated into a remnant low about . The remnant low persisted for the next several days while picking up speed and taking a gradual turn towards the northeast. The low transitioned into an extratropical cyclone on October 14 and intensified, moving through the Azores with gale-force winds. It reached winds of before being absorbed by a larger extratropical storm on October 18. In the Dominican Republic, flooding damaged more than 24,500 homes, about 6,000 of which were destroyed, leaving over 65,000 people homeless. A total of 46 bridges were in some way affected by Noel, isolating many communities. Noel caused at least 87 deaths in the country. The government of Haiti reported damage to almost 18,000 homes and the destruction of nearly 4,000 other, while crops suffered heavy losses. At least 73 people perished in Haiti. Similarly, most of the impact from Noel in Jamaica, Cuba, and the Bahamas was due to flooding, leading to one death each in those countries. The cyclone damaged or destroyed about 22,000 homes, of roads, and almost of sugar cane in Cuba, with damaging totaling around $500 million. In the Bahamas, water entered several structures on Cat Island, Exuma, and Long Island. Noel's remnants generated winds of in the Wreckhouse region of Newfoundland and Labrador, leaving about 190,000 people without power. One person drowned after a boat capsized. Throughout its path, Noel caused at least $580 million in damage. The storm impacted many areas affected by Tropical Storm Noel a month earlier. In Puerto Rico, Olga left rough 79,000 people without electricity and 144,000 without water. One person died after a mudslide buried a car. The swelling of the Yaque del Norte River in the Dominican Republic led officials to open floodgates at a dam. This led to a surge of water that killed at least 35 people and flooded homes in seven towns. Two other people died in the country.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press|date=2007-12-15|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/15/news/Dominican-Olga.php ==Storm names==
Storm names
The following list of names was used for named storms that formed in the North Atlantic in 2007. This is the same list used for the 2001 season, except for Andrea, Ingrid, and Melissa, which replaced Allison, Iris, and Michelle, respectively. Each of the new names was used for the first time in 2007. Retirement On May 13, 2008, at the 30th Session of the World Meteorological Organization's Regional Association IV Hurricane Committee, the WMO retired the names Dean, Felix, and Noel from its Atlantic hurricane name lists, and they will not be used again for another Atlantic hurricane. They were replaced with Dorian, Fernand, and Nestor for the 2013 season. ==Season effects==
Season effects
This is a table of all of the storms that formed in the 2007 Atlantic hurricane season. It includes their name, duration, peak classification and intensities, areas affected, damage, and death totals. Deaths in parentheses are additional and indirect (an example of an indirect death would be a traffic accident), but were still related to that storm. Damage and deaths include totals while the storm was extratropical, a wave, or a low, and all of the damage figures are in 2007 USD. ==See also==
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